[We’ve written about the Torqeedo line before. In fact, those earlier articles are consistently top-rated pages at Navagear, suggesting that there is a lot of interest in the product line.
Judging by the comments we receive, some folks even seem to think we are in the business of SELLING Torqeedos! Um, we’re a gear and gadgets blog. We write about stuff. So far, we don’t sell anything but advertising.
Anyhoo, on with the press release! —Tim]
Revolutionizing the standards for electric propulsion, electric outboard manufacturer Torqeedo offers boaters more power and range from the same battery supply. With thrust equivalent to a 9.9 hp gas outboard, the Cruise 4.0 R achieves an efficiency of more than 50%.
The innovative Cruise converts supplied battery power into propulsion, measured as speed times thrust after all losses. This includes propeller loss at a rate comparable to an 8 hp gas outboard in displacement mode. Extremely powerful, the Cruise 4.0 R recently pushed a well-stocked 24′ pontoon boat with 25" pontoons and seven people aboard at a recorded speed of 6.1 mph.
It operates on 48 V lead-gel, AGM battery bank or two high-performance lithium manganese batteries from Torqeedo’s Power series. An integrated board computer combines information from the motor, batteries and the motor’s GPS receiver, so boaters always know how much battery power and range is remaining. This information is easy to view on the remote throttle display, which also provides current speed, speed over ground and current power consumption in watts.
Perfect for boats on green lakes, pontoon boats, sailboats and catamarans, Torqeedo’s Cruise 4.0 R has a suggested retail price of $3,699. It comes with a cable set, fuse, main-switch, remote throttle control with integrated board computer and magnetic on/off switch and a link-arm for connecting to standard steering systems.
Founded in 2005, Torqeedo offers the most technologically advanced electric outboards on the market. Combining lithium batteries with leading-edge motor technology and propeller design, their award-winning outboards offer unrivalled strength and efficiency for superior range.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I own an outboard powered 31 ft trimaran sailboat.
Moving to this electric motor from the current best of breed (25 inch shaft 9.8hp 4 stroke Tohastu –weight approx 90 lbs) would involve some credible reviews. Not some weekender, not some writer, I mean a real life sailboat owner who goes places, keeps his boat in Salt water, has experience with externally attached motors and knows that gas powered OBs are available that have PROVEN themselves over time.
As far as I can see this German company Torqeedo hasn’t enlisted any credible sailboat owner to put their product to a sustained, multi-month/year test in actual real life cruising.
No way I am going to shell out 3-4 thousand USD for an unproven product. I am not going to be Torqeedos beta tester.
What’s that saying… “you can always recognize the pioneers, because they’re the ones with the arrows in their backs”.
I currently own a J24 and have been using the smallest Torqeedo motor for getting in and out of the slip for the past year and a half. I have found it great, as it operates extremely well at low speeds with lots of torque in a way that my two stroke outboard never did. It also has the wonderful feature of actually starting, not needing any smelly things like oil and gas, and it is far lighter than any motor I have ever owned (I have been using outboards since 1968). One time I was left becalmed and I used it to power myself 6 miles back home, which it did albeit at slow speed. I am now building a tiny runabout and I am considering using the 4. They are great products and are getting better all the time. The propellers are awesome.
So it’s time to repower my 30 ft sailboat. I’ve used OBs in the past (can’t quite swallow the cost and complexities of an inboard).
I’m open to electric motors. Investigating them I soon realize that the battery bank supporting an electric motor is of prime importance. Further more, my local marine store states they’ve sold 4 previously and had each RETURNED because the customers were un satisfied with either the motors thrust or battery run time.
Nevertheless… assuming I choose the cruise R 4.0 ( 48Volt) .. well I’d need 4 new deep cycles (approx $1000 USD). Actually it’s not that simple. I’d likely need at least one more battery so as to dedicate it to electronics when the 4 others are driving the motor ( could be a BIG Voltage drop when there’s a 83Amp draw of the 4000Watt cruise 4.0 at full throttle). Oh, and I need to be prepared for the weight increase of those extra batteries (Batteries ARE HEAVY)!
After 20 minutes of Internet research, I come across a multihull owner who bought two Cruise 4.0 motors and had their Controllers burn out. A fluke, perhaps….. but then, seeing as that guy had $7500 USD or more laid out on that gamble, it certainly had my attention. Did it get resolved? I don’t know.
To the guy with the J24 previously posting who managed to go 6 whole miles (albeit slowly) on the torqeedo……. yawn. I’ve gone 60, even 100 miles at a stretch when pressed on my 8HP gasoline OB motor. At 5 knots. And it cost 1/3 the total price.
I’m trying to keep an open mind. There are some aspects of the torqeedo that are superior. I’m still researching in an attempt to make an intelligent, informed decision. Twice recently when I’ve called the US distrubutor in Chicago to get questions answered… everyone seemed busy and I got a prompt to leave a message. Ahhh…. Not especially a good sign.
P.S. … Don’t even think about getting the Lithium 48V Batteries ….well, not unless your a Wall St Banker. Seriously… they are so expensive that it’s a joke.
Hmm, well, a sailboat is sort of meant to, I dunno, sail, so having a electric outboard to use occasionally might make sense. There are several things you could do to recharge the batteries while on the water, including solar, wind, or a towable generator (while on a run or something). It would be kind of neat on a becalmed but sunny day to still make 3 or 4 knots whisper quiet using a couple hundred watts of solar panels (which are getting really cheap nowadays). Just a thought.
They’re too expensive. Torqeedo could take the sport by storm if they could at least compete with gas. Since it’s mostly plastic, and far fewer moving parts, I would expect the majority of the price is in the battery, motor, and controller, the rest is dirt-cheap plastic. I’m waiting for the clones from China to hit the market. There seems to be a big demand for this type of thing.
I’ve owned and sailed three sailboats in San Francisco and surrounding area; 2 with IB and one with OB engine. I’ve taken a hard look at the Torqeedo line, done a lot of homework and am open to new ideas. At 64 years old, I’m in no hurry to get anywhere. No argument that gas has more power…but so what? I’ll buy gas if I want to go fast, or have a schedule to keep, but neither one are the reasons I’m sailing. Retired, no worries, and especially in no hurry at all…an electric motor seems a reasonalbe solution for my kind of need. Photocells, wind generator, or shore power looks good for recharging, and at $600 a pop, they can forget their lithium-ion goodies…I’ll stick to marine deep cycle. Frankly, I’m tired of all the engine maintenance upkeep, fuel and it’s associated problems, oil…ad nauseam, and electric looks like a good choice. We’ll see.
great engine,we find some clean engine because the lake water is good.I want to buy one for my 17feet boat.